Looking to buy a .308 rifle to use just irons with and I’m in a ban state. Getting a PTR, FAL or M1A will allow me to get preban mags but not so much on the ar10 front. Considering getting a .308 AR with 10 rd mags and LMT is out of my budget. Are the Armalites any good, or crap?
I am a new LMT owner and all I can say is…save up for the LMT, you will not be disappointed. Magpul pmags are $20 a pop for it. You could also put a rifle stock on it. LMT is the way.
The op said he is in a ban state so the pmags won’t do him any good.
Op since your in a ban state I would look to whichever platform gives you the best option for pre ban mags. Not sure which that would be but the M1 or FAL would be good choices.
I love e AR 10 platform. The armalite gen II mags run flawless for me. If you decide to go for armalite you should be good to go.
I’m in a similar situation as you, ban driving purchase. I’ve got one Armalite AR10 Carbine (chrome lined infantry weight), one Noveske N6 (dressed up Armalite), and have owned one previous Armalite and one Eagle.
Didn’t ever get around to shooting the Eagle. The other three have all been solid performers and I’ve got no complaints. Gen II mags are solid, no complaints there either. Honestly, I havn’t tortured them yet but I’m planning on it. I want to run the AR10 Carbine without cleaning until it shuts down. I’m betting, just like a Honda, if you add oil, it’ll keep running!
M14 mags can be converted to use in an AR-10, though I’m not sure if anyone is doing the conversions after the ban lifted for most of us.
They would not activate the bolt catch when empty unless you used gen1 Armalite followers with a spring loaded plunger. The gen 1 mags were the cause of most peoples problems with the AR-10 that I have seen so I’d live without it.
One route you might consider is getting the armalite lower for now and then save up for the Noveske N6 upper. Any concerns about reliability or performance should be solved by the use of this high-quality upper–compatible with Armalite lower–and the use of decent preban mags. Depending on your state, you might also have to have a muzzle brake permanently attached rather than a removable FH. And to answer your original question, I must agree with Cold; the Armalite Ar-10 is not crap. However, depending on your intended use there are better options available. If, since you mentioned JUST using irons, you intend this to only be a range gun, then an Armalite is what I would pick. If you want a SHTF rifle, I would prefer Noveske’s CHF CL barrel or else their N6 stainless barrel with the Match Mod 1 chamber and polygonal rifling.
It will be irons only or T1 only. Thought the N6 came with SS bbl only. Are the pre-ban Armalite mags reliable? Can I put a Sully Stock on a .308 lower?
If I can’t work out a solution with a Ar10 for plinking, I will buy a M1A or HK91 clone.
The N6 series is SS only and quite heavy I might add. I even have the lighter weight 16" N6 and though extremely accurate, it is considerably heavier than the Armalite 16" infantry weight. I ended up specin’ my N6 out as a DMR type rifle. I’m not sure that any “reliability” mods go into the N6. Tearing them both down, the internals look identical. Both Noveske and Armalite 7.62s have been totally reliable in my limited experience. For the record, both of mine are built on N6 lowers. Armalite is banned by name in my state.
With the right buffer/tube configuration, any AR15 stock will work on an AR10
If I were restricted to Gen I mags, I’d probably look elsewhere. Namely, the FAL.
The LAR-8 uses FAL magazines. Nearly all FAL magazines are preban and can be found for around $20-$25 in near new condition. FAL mags are durable and reliable
Definitely not trusting in RRA unless given a reason to.
If you want a decent supply of pre-1994 20rd mags with a decent gun, I would focus on the FAL. The M1A is also good but it may be harder to find pre-1994 M14 mags since production has continued both in the US and overseas across that time period. Most FAL mags were made long before 1994; same is true of HK G3 mags, but my personal experience owning a PTR-91 wasn’t good. A real HK91 might be better - I haven’t owned or used one.
The G3 I am looking at is a prestige Portuguese kit built by a smith. Why shod I still choose a FAL.
If you’re going to veer off of the AR-10, then go take a look through the tacked Knowledge Base Threads here:
https://www.m4carbine.net/forumdisplay.php?f=7
Might want to start another thread there after reading the stuck threads if you have any questions or want to continue discussing the pros/cons.
And I’m assuming you meant “pristine” rather than “prestige”…?
Yes. My phone corrected me.
Gotta love “smart phones”. 
Ok I am new to this thread but I have put about 100 rnds through my PWS MK214 it is freakin awesome and it takes p mags too! 2200 out of the box with magpul mbus sights. Low recoil, piston driven upper that mocks the piston of the durable ak47!
Check PWS I just picked up a MK214 and I love it low recoil and a piston driven upper that mocks the ak47
yeah really. Smart phone my ass. Derdermk23, I am not into piston ars.
You would be much happier with a preban SAR-3 or some other kind of G3.